Shri 1008 Ajitnath Digamber Jain Mandir, Penukonda, District - Sri Sathya Sai (Andhra Pradesh)

Sri Ajithanatha Digambar Jain Temple Penkonda is located at the southern region of Penkonda. The temple was built in the 14th Century during the Vijayanagar empire rule and this was found during the renovation at 19th Century. The temple has got a unique history and represents Legacy of Jainism in Andhra Pradesh from 12th Century Epoch. The Temple was renovated by the Gowdanakunte family of Amarapura during 19th Century, later they had constructed an Adinath temple in Amarapura located in the Anantapur district. Hence this abridged their visits to this temple. The temple was under the control of Sri. Lakshisena Battaarraka Peeta in the past and subsequently maintained by Amarapura Jain Samaja for more than 30 years. In 1966-67 the priest of Gudibande took Digambar muni diksha as Muni 108 Sri Ajithakeerthi Maharaj and spent his last days at this temple. Over a period of time after the Samadhi of Muni Ajithakeerthiji the temple started deteriorating due to lack of upkeep. Also Temple Idol was stolen by thieves assuming the idol was made of gold. Subsequently realizing the idol was not made of gold by then they had cut the left hand of Thirthankara’s Idol. Since then Pooja was stopped and was a very bad at state. The temple is very vast and spacious of its kind measured by 100 X 128 Feet wide. The two big attraction apart from the Ajithanatha Idols is Shrutha Devi (Saraswathi) to the right which is around 5ft in height and it is seated in Lalitasana on a double petal lotus. The other being the idol of Neelamani Parashawanath to the left which is around 6ft in height. Both are on the either side of the entrance of Grabhagruha. There are inscriptions at temple which states that the two idols at the entrance of Grabhagruha was installed by Sri Karanadhikara of Sidila Bommarasa’s, disciples of Sri Maghanandi Siddantha Chakravarthi. The temple is renovated at the year 2015 and 2016 by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust and Ajithanatha Digambar Jain Religious Charitable & Educational Trust,Penkonda.